A group of men attempted to steal an ATM Wednesday morning in northeast Houston. (Cody Duty / Houston Chronicle)

A group of men attempted to steal an ATM Wednesday morning in northeast Houston. (Cody Duty / Houston Chronicle)

Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle

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A group of men attempted to steal an ATM Wednesday morning in northeast Houston. (Cody Duty / Houston Chronicle)

A group of men attempted to steal an ATM Wednesday morning in northeast Houston. (Cody Duty / Houston Chronicle)

Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle

Image 3 of 3

4 men smash truck into Houston Citgo in failed attempt to steal ATM

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Four would-be thieves left empty handed after smashing a truck early Wednesday morning through the glass doors of a gas station along U.S. 59 service road in northeast Houston.

The incident occurred about 4:30 a.m. at a Citgo at 3501 Eastex Freeway near Collingsworth, according to the Houston Police Department.

Police said a clerk working at the store told investigators he saw a truck pull up to the store and heard it smash through the doors. He saw three men jump out and try to pull out the store's ATM, but the machine would not budge.

Then the men climbed back into the truck and sped away. A fourth suspect was driving the vehicle.

No injuries were reported, but the clerk was apparently trapped briefly in a small enclosed area inside the side by debris from the break-in.